A shrewd investment by Lindsay Park and partners is paying dividends as Touchdown furthers his positive impression racing in Australia.
The former New Zealand galloper purchased by Ben, Will and JD Hayes took his record to five wins and three placings in nine starts with victory in the 2026 Melbourne Cup Carnival On Sale (1620m) at Flemington.
Second-up this time, the five-year-old finished second over 1400m last start at Sandown.
“Although he didn’t at Sandown, it was still a great run,” co-trainer Ben Hayes said.
“We had to got back from the draw on a heavy track first-up and he was super through the line.
“He really came through it well. This time he had to a bit more work than we thought but it was an easy watch in the end and he was strong through the line and there were nice spacings back to second and third.”
Touchdown ($1.95 favourite) won by two-lengths over the Danny O’Brien-trained Fahrr Flung ($12) with Kaleo ($5.50) a further 2¼-lengths away in third.
Touchdown is too classy 🏈
Looks like there’s plenty more to come for the Hayes trained gelding!@blake_shinn @lindsayparkrace pic.twitter.com/6mkmdomUH5
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) August 1, 2026
“I think there is a lot more to come and he is an exciting horse going forward,” Hayes added.
“It is always good when they run well at this place and there are a lot of nice races to win.
“We’re not going to get too carried away with him yet and we’ll go through the grades with him but he may end up in a nice race in the spring.”
Touchdown also provided Blake Shinn with his second winner on the card on his return meeting after a long injury layoff.
“He’s a raw talent, I feel and he’s not the furnished product,” Shinn said of Touchdown.
“I love that he’s got a great length of stride and I think he’ll get better as he gets further.”
